Search

Good things come from Bangor...Really?...Nah, can't be. I worked there for 3 months and it was dictionary definition shithole.

Two Door Cinema Club – ‘Tourist History’

(Kitsune/Etc Etc)

The debut album from the Northern Ireland trio Two Door Cinema Club snaps, crackles and pops its way into our collective consciousness. Lead by the high school vocals of Alex Trimble, the band exude youthful exuberance and their first album ensures a long and acclaimed indie-pop career lies ahead. At the collective age of 18 the trio belie their years and hit us with a lesson in how to make tight, accomplished and uplifting music rooted firmly in the pop sensibilities of their musical forefathers.

Recorded in London and Paris, the album is a non-stop rocket ride into the indie stratosphere. From opener ‘Cigarettes in the Theatre’ your feet never really touch the ground until the album abruptly stops 32 minutes later. Every single second is filled with umph and positivity along with gentle nods to their key influences; the plucky guitars (Bloc Party/ The Foals), harmonic vocals (Death Cab), succinct drumming (Modest Mouse) all topped off with a dose of sunshine and a pinch of excitement.

Indeed, there is very little filler on show here. It’s hit after hit after hit and the trio never let up in their mission to produce fresh, lively and upbeat tunes. ‘Undercover Martyn’ is an undoubted stand out track as it mixes the bombast of its guitars with repetition of chorus to create a summer-feel track made out of confidence and dripping with optimism.

However, as exciting and compelling as the album first appears it is not without its flaws. The direction it propels you is quite linear in motion and lacks the ups and downs or twists and turns of other truly great albums. The instantaneous nature of the tracks on show ensure they lack the depth after repeated listens. Having said that though, these are minor qualms to what otherwise is a truly refreshing and awe-inspiring debut.